Zoos in Tennessee

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If you're in Tennessee and looking for an educational animal adventure, you'll find that the state has several world-class attractions on offer. There are zoos in Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga, each with their own specialties and attractions. If you're a fan of red pandas, also known as firefoxes, Tennessee is definitely a destination. Several of the state's zoos have special red panda exhibits.

Memphis Zoo

Memphis is the largest city in Tennessee and its zoo, founded in 1906, is the city's most-visited attraction. Take the opportunity to tour the giant panda exhibit, one of only five in the country. There is also a unique nocturnal exhibit, a children's zoo, a trio of Komodo dragons and a replica of Yellowstone Park ecosystem, called the Teton Trek. The zoo is located on 76 acres in midtown Memphis.

Nashville Zoo

The current incarnation of the Nashville Zoo was created in 1996 through a merger of the original Nashville Zoo and nearby Grassmere Zoo. The current zoo is located on the Grassmere grounds just outside the city. The 200-acre grounds feature the original plantation house and museum as well as zoo exhibits. Another unique feature is the community-built Jungle Gym playground. Notable exhibits include an interactive Lorikeet aviary, Gibbon Island and an African savannah exhibit with giraffes and elephants.

Knoxville Zoo

The Knoxville Zoo covers 53 acres on the edge of town. Notable exhibits include the elephants, who paint with their trunks, the meerkats, the black bears and the chimpanzees. There is an indoor children's play area as well as an outdoor Children's Cove. The Knoxville Zoo is particularly notable for its successful red panda breeding program, with almost 100 successful births. Two cubs, Spark and Ember, were streamed live on the Internet for several months in 2010.

Chattanooga Zoo

The Chattanooga Zoo is a small, 13-acre zoo located in the center of town in Warner Park. Its star exhibit is the Himalayan Passage, featuring a colony of red pandas as well as snow leopards and langurs. The zoo also houses five chimpanzees and a unique train-themed space called Walkin' the Tracks, which exhibits native North American species such as cougars and the red-tailed hawk.

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About the Author

Lori A. Selke has been a professional writer and editor for more than 15 years, touching on topics ranging from LGBT issues to sexuality and sexual health, parenting, alternative health, popular music, film and video, food and cooking. Her work has appeared in "Curve Magazine," "Girlfriends," "Libido," "The Children's Advocate," Decider.com, "The SF Weekly," EthicalFoods.com and GoMag.com.

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